Just not enough Hejduk to go around.
Posted 1:08 PM ET | Comments 4
In looking at last nights game, and then thinking back to last season, I never would have figured I would be writing this blog.
Last year we complained about not having any depth at center. Truth be told we really didn't have the depth we needed at forward and defense. Last season we also had Ryan Smyth which gave us some added scoring and a legitimate first line for the opposition to key in on.
This Avalanche team is running into some of the things that the Pens ran into about three seasons ago. First and foremost they were young. Malkin and Staal were in their first season. Crosby was great, but was still learning the game at an NHL level. However, what could not be argued was their depth down the middle.
Disclaimer: I am in no way saying our unproven centers are as good as the Pens. The Avs have a long way to go before they even get there and will need time to get there. This is simply to note some similarities both teams have.
That season the Pens suffered an embarrassing loss to the Senators in the first round of the playoffs. The next season they made sure the Senators remembered that beating and handily gave them the first round exit. The trades that made a difference were Hal Gil and of course, Hossa. However, they lost in the Finals due to lack of finishing power.
The next year they got Guerin and Kunitz. Both of these guys made a difference and all the pieces clicked. MAF helped the team grow in confidence as he performed and they had the right pieces to put together the Championship team they needed.
The Avs have Stastny(point per game player), O'Reilly(young but understands the game and is getting a few points), and Duchene(2 points last night working with Hejduk. The problem is the enigmatic wingers. Hejduk is the most consistend of all of them. David Jones works hard every night, and is good for goals and driving the net hard, but is not an elite winger.
To fix our problems in the forward zone we need and elite winger. I would love a player cut from the same cloth as Kris Kunitz. Hard nosed, not afraid to do the dirty work, or to throw the gloves. Great for playing against guys like Dion Phaneuf.
My preferred method of acquiring this winger would be through the draft, but that will be hard to do without a top 5 pick.
Our other issue is going to be at defense. Foote isn't going to last much longer. Hannan has one more year on his contract. Salei isn't in much better shape physically. Wilson will be a good point man but has some growing to do.
The problem will be time and contracts. Stastny is signed long term, O'Reilly will get a big raise in 3 seasons, as well as Duchene(HE IS NOT A BUST!). Shattenkirk won't be an issue for his entry contract, but the issue will be when he is successful and needs a raise and the other contracts are at their peak.
Example, Galiardi, won't make big bucks will likely deserve a raise in 11/12. Kyle Quincey is an RFA this summer and we WANT to keep him. Preissing will be off our books in 11/12, so there goes 2.75 million. Jones will also need a raise come 11/12. I think it is time we let Svatos go, sorry dude. Wolski is also an RFA after this season, and could want a raise, or years gauranteed.
All that said, if want to open up a Stanley Cup window our General Manager will have to manage this cap very well. Hopefully the economy works in our favor and gives a boost to the NHL advertising revenue. A contract with ESPN would help too.
Who would you like to see us pick up as a winger to work with our centers? Do we draft him or work towards a trade?
Last year we complained about not having any depth at center. Truth be told we really didn't have the depth we needed at forward and defense. Last season we also had Ryan Smyth which gave us some added scoring and a legitimate first line for the opposition to key in on.
This Avalanche team is running into some of the things that the Pens ran into about three seasons ago. First and foremost they were young. Malkin and Staal were in their first season. Crosby was great, but was still learning the game at an NHL level. However, what could not be argued was their depth down the middle.
Disclaimer: I am in no way saying our unproven centers are as good as the Pens. The Avs have a long way to go before they even get there and will need time to get there. This is simply to note some similarities both teams have.
That season the Pens suffered an embarrassing loss to the Senators in the first round of the playoffs. The next season they made sure the Senators remembered that beating and handily gave them the first round exit. The trades that made a difference were Hal Gil and of course, Hossa. However, they lost in the Finals due to lack of finishing power.
The next year they got Guerin and Kunitz. Both of these guys made a difference and all the pieces clicked. MAF helped the team grow in confidence as he performed and they had the right pieces to put together the Championship team they needed.
The Avs have Stastny(point per game player), O'Reilly(young but understands the game and is getting a few points), and Duchene(2 points last night working with Hejduk. The problem is the enigmatic wingers. Hejduk is the most consistend of all of them. David Jones works hard every night, and is good for goals and driving the net hard, but is not an elite winger.
To fix our problems in the forward zone we need and elite winger. I would love a player cut from the same cloth as Kris Kunitz. Hard nosed, not afraid to do the dirty work, or to throw the gloves. Great for playing against guys like Dion Phaneuf.
My preferred method of acquiring this winger would be through the draft, but that will be hard to do without a top 5 pick.
Our other issue is going to be at defense. Foote isn't going to last much longer. Hannan has one more year on his contract. Salei isn't in much better shape physically. Wilson will be a good point man but has some growing to do.
The problem will be time and contracts. Stastny is signed long term, O'Reilly will get a big raise in 3 seasons, as well as Duchene(HE IS NOT A BUST!). Shattenkirk won't be an issue for his entry contract, but the issue will be when he is successful and needs a raise and the other contracts are at their peak.
Example, Galiardi, won't make big bucks will likely deserve a raise in 11/12. Kyle Quincey is an RFA this summer and we WANT to keep him. Preissing will be off our books in 11/12, so there goes 2.75 million. Jones will also need a raise come 11/12. I think it is time we let Svatos go, sorry dude. Wolski is also an RFA after this season, and could want a raise, or years gauranteed.
All that said, if want to open up a Stanley Cup window our General Manager will have to manage this cap very well. Hopefully the economy works in our favor and gives a boost to the NHL advertising revenue. A contract with ESPN would help too.
Who would you like to see us pick up as a winger to work with our centers? Do we draft him or work towards a trade?
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19 "
23 As the Game Wears On
24 What it all Comes Down to!
27 Listening tougher than Watching
29 The Avs and Heart
30 The Game and Some other Good Stuff
24 What it all Comes Down to!
27 Listening tougher than Watching
29 The Avs and Heart
30 The Game and Some other Good Stuff
02 Look at the Kids
03 For All of the Granato haters/lovers
05 In the Big D
06 A little bit of Reality
08 The Youth Movement
10 The Pot Boils
13 Entertaining game, too bad it was a loss.
14 Talk About Centers
16 A win against the Wings
16 Second Half of a Back to Back
19 We will take the 2 points
22 Lack of Effort vs. the Cats
24 Costly vs. the Coyotes, in more ways than one.
28 2-0 Season series vs the Wings
28 Stastny Needs Surgery
03 For All of the Granato haters/lovers
05 In the Big D
06 A little bit of Reality
08 The Youth Movement
10 The Pot Boils
13 Entertaining game, too bad it was a loss.
14 Talk About Centers
16 A win against the Wings
16 Second Half of a Back to Back
19 We will take the 2 points
22 Lack of Effort vs. the Cats
24 Costly vs. the Coyotes, in more ways than one.
28 2-0 Season series vs the Wings
28 Stastny Needs Surgery
06 Look at The Avs by the Numbers
09 Work, and Some More Hard Work
10 Sidney Who? I want to see Wojtek.
17 One Bad Play
19 A fun one to watch last night
22 Goaltending, what a nightmare
31 Dreaming, to fix the Avs Problems
09 Work, and Some More Hard Work
10 Sidney Who? I want to see Wojtek.
17 One Bad Play
19 A fun one to watch last night
22 Goaltending, what a nightmare
31 Dreaming, to fix the Avs Problems
Trade the Tin Man (aka Wojtek Wolski) for some grit on the left side. Also, give Durno more minutes with Dutch and Duke. He plays with the tenacity the Avs need. Get rid of Svatos and put Liles on the market to see what fish you can lure in. I like Liles but in six months we'll have Shattenkirk to take his role (he's a better passer anyways), therefore making him available to lure in new talent.
The thing about letting Liles go is we won't have his unique skill set right away from Shattenkirk. D-Men take a long time to develop, and keeping Liles around for bearing the puck moving load while Shattenkird develops makes sense to me.Cumiskey might be worth something to someone though. That could be worth a shot at a trade. Wolski might be our best trade bait at the moment. Svatos needs a new team, just plain and simple.
I agree we need a scoring winger to replace Svatos on the 2nd line. I wouldn't be in too big of a hurry to trade for one. The Avs are good this year but not good enough to win a cup even with the winger. For now I'd try Galiardi when he gets back but this offseason they should look to add someone throught free agency. I would love to add someone like Rene Bourque but Calgary has more than enough room to resign him especially with Jokinens contract expiring.
I think our time will come. Our depth at center is good, and will only get better. Stastny is probably top 5 in league as far as set up guys go and will be worth it in the long run.Cap management will be key though. If all the players develop, we draft smartly and make the right signings, our "window" could be had in two more seasons.